Magnetically attached holster and methods of manufacturing and using same

ABSTRACT

A holster includes a first plate having at least one recess, a second plate having at least one protruding member, the at least one protruding member being aligned with the at least one recess, and a coupling member for securing at least a portion of a mobile device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to 62/872,438 filed Jul. 10, 2019, thedisclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entiretyas if full set forth herein.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to holsters for holding objects, such asmobile phones. More specifically, the present disclosure relates toholsters that provide better securement of objects.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Mobile phones and similar objects are often carried in pockets or pursesand their glass displays may be scratched or cracked as a result.Additionally, certain mobile phones are too large or bulky to fit inpockets. Other users will carry a mobile phone on a belt clip, but theseclips are difficult to quickly access and are limited by where the beltclip can be attached. Moreover, these clips cannot be properly mountedon all clothes, and may be easily decoupled. Finally, if a user does nothave pockets or a purse, they will be forced to carry their device intheir hand, which limits their productivity while leaving the devicevulnerable to damages. All of these solutions have their drawbacks.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In some embodiments, a holster includes a first plate having at leastone recess, a second plate having at least one protruding member, the atleast one protruding member being aligned with the at least one recess,and a coupling member for securing at least a portion of a mobiledevice.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

Various embodiments of the presently disclosed holsters are describedherein with reference to the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1A is a schematic front view of a first plate;

FIG. 1B is a schematic front view of a second plate

FIG. 1C is a schematic perspective view of a holster having a firstplate, a second plate and coupling member including a pocket;

FIG. 1D is a schematic perspective view of the holster of FIG. 1C as itholds a mobile phone; and

FIGS. 2A-C illustrate yet another embodiment of a holster.

Various embodiments of the present invention will now be described withreference to the appended drawings. It is to be appreciated that thesedrawings depict only some embodiments of the invention and are thereforenot to be considered limiting of its scope.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Despite the various improvements that have been made to device carryingcases, conventional methods and devices suffer felons some shortcomingsas described above.

There therefore is a need for further improvements to the devices,systems, and methods of manufacturing and using device carrying cases.Among other advantages, the present disclosure may address one or moreof these needs.

In some embodiments, a movable holster is described which may be locatedin an area convenient to the user. The holster may be a wearablelight-weight device for carrying a device, such as a cell phone to anyfabric through the use of magnets. In addition to being light-weight thedisclosed product will also be better secured to fabric, and will notallow a foreign object to pry apart or dislodge the carrying case.

In some embodiments, a flat-ridged back plate sized the same or slightlylarger than a flat-ridged front plate will attach magnetically, withfabric in between. This forms a tight sandwich difficult to pry apart.Specifically, in one example, a holster may include a flat-ridged backplate of rectangular shape made of light weight material, such asplastic, with a ferromagnetic plate below of at least 1 female recessedmember, and a top plate of similar shape and/or size or slightly smallerwith protruding magnet(s) (male members) to fit into the female sectionof the back plate.

In some embodiments, a holster 10 includes a first plate or back plate102 (FIG. 1A). The first plate 102 may be generally rectangular in shapeas shown, and may have rounded or curved edges 103. In at least someexamples, the first plate may be of a different shape (e.g., square,circular, oval, etc.). First plate 102 may be generally flat, and mayhave formed of a light-weight material, such as plastic, a metal, orwood. First plate 102 may include a plurality of recesses 104 a,104 b.In some examples, recesses 104 a,104 b may be generally circular asshown. Alternatively, recesses 104 a,104 b may be square-shaped,rectangular, or some other shape. As shown, two recesses are shown, buta single recess, or multiple recesses (e.g., two, three, four, five,etc.) may be formed in first plate 102. One or more ferromagnetic plate106 a,106 b may be coupled, adhered or affixed to first plate 102. In atleast some examples, ferromagnetic plates 106 a,106 b may be disposedadjacent recesses 104 a,104 b.

Holster 10 may also include front plate or second plate 202, formed of ashape and/or size that is similar to first plate 102 (FIG. 1B). Secondplates 202 may also be formed of a same material as first plate 102. Inat least some examples, second plate 202 includes a pair of protrudingmembers 204 a,204 b. In at least some examples, these protruding members204 a,204 b are magnetic elements that are coupled, affixed or otherwiseadhered to second plate. It will be understood that second plate 202 mayinclude a single protruding member or a plurality of protruding members(e.g., two, three, four, five or six protruding members). The protrudingmembers may be of a same shape and/or size as recesses 104 a,104 b, andthey may be aligned so that each protruding members lines up with acorresponding recess 204. In addition to having a magnetic couplingbetween protruding members 204 and ferromagnetic plate(s) 106,protruding members 204 may also fit within recesses 104 to form amale-female connection with at least a portion of the protruding memberbeing fit (e.g., friction fit) within the recess 104. A coupling member250 may be attached to second plate 202 or otherwise incorporated in thesecond plate. In at least some examples, this coupling member 250 is apocket that includes a second wall spaced from the second plate 202 andincludes a partially circumferentially border 251 that joins the twocomponents except for the top so that an opening 252 is formed (FIG.1C). The opening may be sized to receive at least a portion of a mobiledevice “P” (FIG. 1D). In at least some examples, the coupling member isa clip that grips a portion of the mobile device.

In at least some example, first plate 102 is slightly larger than secondplate 202 to prevent foreign objects from getting under the second plate202. Additionally, the two plates may be sandwiched together tightlywith no room for another object to fit therebetween. This may prevent anobject from catching the underneath part of the second plate and pryingit off the first plate. Thus, the configuration may prevent unintendeddislodging of the holster and enables the system to use lower strengthmagnets to insure coupling. Lower strength magnets may be lighter inweight thus preventing tugging and sagging of the fabric. Additionally,lower strength magnets may also reduce cost.

In some examples, a method of manufacturing a holster 10 includesforming a first plate 102 by molding or cutting it to an appropriateshape (e.g., rectangular). First plate may be between 1/16 and ½ inch inthickness and may have a ridge around its perimeter. In some examples,first plate 102 may be formed of a plastic or wood. One or more recesses104 a,104 b may drilled or cut into the first plate and aligned alongits central axis. One or more ferromagnetic pieces or plate may beattached or coupled adjacent the recesses 104 a,104 b. Second plate 202may be molded or cut of similar material into a size that is equal to orslightly smaller than the first plate. A number of protruding members202 (e.g., magnets) may be attached, adhered, or otherwise coupled tosecond plate 202 along its central axis (e.g., halfway between the twoside edges). Protruding members 204 a,204 b may be of the same shapeand/or size (or slightly smaller) than the recesses, so that therecesses 104 can accept the protruding members 204 a,204 b therein. Inat least some examples, the number of protruding members is the same asthe number of recesses. Alternatively, the number of protruding membersis less than the number of recesses.

In this manner, the first and the second plate may be coupled togethervia magnetic attraction between the protruding members and theferromagnetic components, and possible friction between the protrudingmember and the sidewalls of the recesses. In some examples, a rubberlayer may be disposed on either all or some of the protruding members,within all or some of the recesses, or both to increase grip between thetwo components. In some examples, the rubber or non-skid, non-slip orgripping material may be applied to the back plate, the bottom of therecess, the protruding members and/or the front plate. In some examples,the material may be applied on a side that contacts the materialsandwiched between the two plates. Thus, the non-skid material may beapplied to a variety of components as described. In some examples, amagnetic shield may be placed between the magnetic protruding membersand the object being carried to prevent damages from the magnets.

In a second example, a holster 30 may be formed of three components,including a backplate 302 having recesses 304 a,304 b and ferromagneticplates 306 a,306 b, a front plate 312 having protruding members 314a,314 b on one side that faces and aligns with backplate 302, and aplurality of clips 315 on an opposite side. As shown, three clips 315are disposed on the face of front plate 312, at the top and at each ofthe two side edges of the rectangular perimeter. A protective material(e.g., cloth) and/or magnetic shield 316 may also be disposed on theface of front plate 312 on the side that will face the mobile device.Finally, a case 322 having, for example, an aperture 323 may be attachedto the mobile device such that when the device is inserted into the case322, the display of the device faces the protective material 316, andthe case 322 can be slid into the front plate from the bottom to besecured to front plate 312 via clips 315. The front plate 312, in turn,is secured to backplate 302 via the magnetic protruding members and therecesses. It will be understood that variations of this are possible.For example, case 322 and front plate 312 may be integrated.

Thus, a holster 10 for a cellphone or other object(s) to be placedanywhere on an article of clothing or fabric case such as a pocketbookmay be formed, and the holster may be secured at a convenient and safelocation. For example, the holster may be used on the front or side of apant leg or on a jacket or shirt. Thus, the device can allow the user tochoose their preferred accessible location that suits their needs.

Although the invention herein has been described with reference toparticular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodimentsare merely illustrative of the principles and applications of thepresent invention. It is therefore to be understood that numerousmodifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that otherarrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scopeof the present invent on as defined by the appended claims.

It will be appreciated that the various dependent claims and thefeatures set forth therein can be combined in different ways thanpresented in the initial claims. It will also be appreciated that thefeatures described in connection with individual embodiments may beshared with others of the described embodiments.

What is claimed is:
 1. A holster comprising: a first plate having atleast one recess; a second plate having at least one protruding member,the at least one protruding member being aligned with the at least onerecess; and a coupling member for securing at least a portion of amobile device.
 2. The holster of claim 1, wherein the at least onerecess comprises two circular recesses.
 3. The holster of claim 1,wherein the at least one recess comprises three circular recesses. 4.The holster of claim 1, wherein the at least one protruding membercomprises two protruding members.
 5. The holster of claim 1, wherein theat least one protruding member and the at least one recess are of a samequantity.
 6. The holster of claim 1, wherein each of the at least oneprotruding member is magnetic.
 7. The holster of claim 1, furthercomprising a ferromagnetic component coupled to the first plate.
 8. Theholster of claim 1, wherein the ferromagnetic component is disposedadjacent the at least one recess.
 9. The holster of claim 1, wherein thefirst plate and the second plate are of a same shape.
 10. The holster ofclaim 1, wherein the first plate and the second plate are generallyrectangular.
 11. The holster of claim 1, wherein the first plate and thesecond plate are of a same size.
 12. The holster of claim 1, wherein thefirst plate and the second plate are made of plastic.
 13. The holster ofclaim 1, wherein the coupling member includes a clip that grips aportion of a mobile device.
 14. The holster of claim 1, wherein thecoupling member includes a second wall and a partial circumferentialborder that forms a pocket for receiving at least a portion of a mobiledevice.
 15. The holster of claim 14, wherein the pocket is made ofleather.
 16. The holster of claim 14, wherein the pocket is made of afabric.
 17. The holster of claim 14, wherein the pocket is made of asynthetic material.
 18. The holster of claim 14, further comprising amagnetic shield overlying the protruding members.